• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.307-318
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• 2024

Objectives: Effective data collection and surveillance of epidemiological trends are essential in confronting the growing challenges associated with substance use (SU), especially in light of emerging trends and underreporting of cases. However, research and data are scarce regarding SU and substance use disorder (SUD) in Korea. Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify data sources and surveillance methods used in SU research in Korea up to December 2023. This review was complemented by semi-structured consultations with experts in this area in Korea, whose feedback led to revisions of previously identified data sources and assessments. Results: Our review identified 32 publications conducting secondary analyses on existing data to examine the epidemiology of SU and SUD in Korea. Of these, 14 studies utilized clinical databases to explore the prescription patterns of addictive substances, particularly opioids. Eleven data sources showed promise for advancing SU research; however, they face substantial limitations, including a lack of available data, missing data, the absence of key variables, the exclusion of marginalized populations not captured within the clinical system, and complexities in matching individual-level data across time points and datasets. Conclusions: Current surveillance methods for SU in Korea face considerable challenges in accessibility, usability, and standardization. Moreover, existing data repositories may fail to capture information on populations not served by clinical or judicial systems. To systematically improve surveillance approaches, it is necessary to develop a robust and nationally representative survey, refine the use of existing clinical data, and ensure the availability of data on treatment facilities.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2011

Objectives:The present study investigates the status of inpatient psychiatric consultations at a general hospital in order to find factors that contribute to treatment compliance related to psychiatric consultations. Methods:The subjects were 333 patients who were hospitalized at Korea University Medical Center Ansan Hospital from 1 September 2009 to 31 July 2010.The patients were referred for psychiatric consultation during hospitalization. This study investigates demographic data, request department, referral causes, requestor, psychiatric history and diagnosis, andpsychiatric treatment compliance. Treatment compliance was defined as whether or not the patient had accepted psychiatric treatment during hospitalization or outpatient department(OPD) follow-up. This study ascertains the factors that have impact on compliance, by taking binary logistic regression with compliance and other variables. Results:Among the patients that were offered psychiatric treatment during hospitalization(N=310), treatment compliance was 82.9%. Among the patients that were offered OPD treatment(N=111), compliance was 55.8%. Elderly group(>65 years) showed better compliance to treatment during hospitalization than the younger patient group(OR=4.838, p=0.004). Patients with secondary psychiatric disorders showed better OPD follow-up compliance than patients with secondary psychiatric disorders(OR=8.520, p=.008). Conclusion:Elderly patients showed better compliance for psychiatric treatment during hospitalization. However they commonly have disorders such as delirium and mood disorders that have impact on the patient's physical state, hence further active measures should be carried out. Patients referred due to primary psychiatric disorders showed poor OPD compliance. Therefore clinicians have to suggest multidisciplinary interventions that will improve treatment compliance of such patients.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to diagnose the operation status of high school integrated science newly introduced in the 2015 revised national curriculum and first applied in 2018, to examine teachers' perception on the new educational policy, and then based on this, extract implications for settling down the policy. A survey was administered to science teachers who participated in the in-service teacher training on integrated science, and the responses of 384 high school science teachers were analyzed. According to the results of the survey, integrated science was allotted six units to each school, and two or more teachers divided achievement standards and were responsible for them in many cases. Science teachers pointed to the increase of student-oriented activities as the biggest change due to the application of integrated science and also showed a positive attitude towards increasing the proportion of performance-based assessment, diversifying evaluation methods, increasing teacher consultations, and enhancing the holistic understanding of natural phenomenon, etc. In particular, teachers with 15 years or more of teaching experience were significantly positive about the increase of student-oriented activities, diverse assessment methods, and opportunities of teacher consultations. For teachers with a sub-major in science, teaching about non-majored contents was the most difficult and it was also difficult to determine the appropriate level of contents to teach. Teachers who majored common science, however, rarely complained about teaching non-majored content. In the case of two teachers in charge of integrated science, there was a statistically significant demand for subject matter knowledge as training content, and for mixed education incorporating theory and practice and customized training as a training method. In the case of one teacher responsible for the subject, there was a relatively lower demand. From these results, some implications for the successful implementation of integrated science were discussed.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.185-193
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• 2023

Background: This study focuses on the establishment and operation of a stroke patient hotline program to help patients and their caregivers determine when acute neurological changes require emergency attention. Method: The stroke hotline was established at the Gyeonggi Regional Cerebrovascular Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, in June 2016. Patients diagnosed with stroke during admission or in outpatient clinics were registered and provided with stroke education. Consulting nurses managed hotline calls and made decisions about outpatient schedules or emergency room referrals, consulting physicians when necessary. The study analyzed consultation records from June 2016 to December 2020, assessing consultation volumes and types. Outcomes and hotline satisfaction were also evaluated. Results: Over this period, 6,851 patients were registered, with 1,173 patients (18%) undergoing 3,356 hotline consultations. The average monthly consultation volume increased from 29.2 cases in 2016 to 92.3 cases in 2020. Common consultation types included stroke symptoms (22.3%), blood pressure/glucose inquiries (12.8%), and surgery/procedure questions (12.6%). Unexpected outpatient visits decreased from 103 cases before the hotline to 81 cases after. Among the 2,244 consultations between January 2019 and December 2020, 9.6% were recommended hospital visits, with two cases requiring intra-arterial thrombectomy. Patient satisfaction ratings of 9-10 points increased from 64% in 2019 to 69% in 2020. Conclusion: The stroke hotline program effectively reduced unexpected outpatient visits and achieved high patient satisfaction. Expanding the program could enhance the management of stroke-related neurological symptoms and minimize unnecessary healthcare resource utilization.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2009

Many of our contemporaries suffer from the symptoms of phlegm-fire, which is caused by stress, processed food, heavy diet, and unseasonal fruits and vegetables. With consultations from 'Euihaklpmoon', 'DongeuiBogham', and 'Ji-San's clinical lectures' this research, which is mainly focused on phlegm-fire, concluded as following. Phlegm-fire is caused by congestion of seven emotions, congestion of qi, complication of phlegm on fire, depletion of body fluids after long periods of disease, heavy diet, or congenital unbalance of yin-yang and qi-hyul. Concentration of phlegm-fire on the head causes headache, dizziness, frontal headache, tinnitus, and auditory dysfunction. The patient usually complains breaking pain. Dhamhwabang of Yijin-tang, Chunghoonhwadham-tang, and Yijin-tang variation for right headache can be used. Concentration of phlegm-fire on the thorax causes insomnia, palpitation, and insanity. Samhoohndham-tang variation, Chungsimgondhanhwan can be used. Concentration of phlegm-fire on the gastric region causes reflux of gastric acid, eructation, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, dysmenorrhea, and fluor gentalis. Yijin-tang variation for abdominal discomfort, Yanghyulsamul-tang, Hwadhamchunghwa-tang can be used. Shin type or Gi type, female with prevalence of qi and tendency of fire, female with dark facial color, female with raised eye tails and large noses, female with pointed noses, and male or female with large noses and mouths are likely to possess phlegm-fire. Abdominal discomfort of male with thick eyebrow and headache of Gi type female is usually caused by phlegm-fire.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.2150-2159
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• 2014

This study was designed to investigate the status of orthodontic treatment and facial plastic surgery among 389 patients who visited dental clinics located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. After the collection of data, an analysis was carried out using a spss statistical program. The analysis results are as follows. the level of satisfaction with orthodontic treatment from patients with experience of the orthodontic treatment turned out to be high(p<0.01). Women considered 3.01 to 4 million won to be reasonable cost for orthodontic treatment (p<0.05), which is higher cost recognized by men, and patients with experience of orthodontic treatment recognized 19 to 24 months as the proper orthodontic treatment period(p<0.01). In addition, women showed higher figures than men in their awareness on the need for orthodontic treatment checkups(p<0.001), and facial plastic surgery experience (p<0.01). With respect to the part of the face on which they hoped to have plastic surgery, eye plastic surgery was higher in women (p<0.01), and nose surgery turned out to be higher in patients with experience of orthodontic treatment(p<0.05). Meanwhile, women considered the eye as the most important part among other facial areas (p<0.001), and they recognized that dentist should perform plastic surgery on both jaws among facial areas(p<0.01). In conclusion, the dental medical staff should provide consultations and operate treatment systems in consideration of gender differences and needs of dental patients. In the case of orthodontic treatment for the improvement of facial appearance, especially double jaw surgery which is closely related to the oral function, professional dental medical staff needs to perform the operation, considering the special oral environment. In addition, it is determined that provision of relevant medical information and promotion of dental service is required to provide patients with correct knowledge about orthodontic treatment and facial plastic surgery.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.10-22
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• 2010

Purpose: Through a thorough examination of the CCSC (Community Comprehensive Support Center) system in Japan, this study suggests a scheme to provide community-based preventive health care services for the elderly in Korea. Methods: The study inquired into the applicability of the Japanese model by reviewing the data related to the CCSC project, aided by both in-depth interviews with staff in the field and consultations with specialists. Results: Rearrangement of the Visiting Health Management Project system is needed to manage the collective or individual visiting care management for frailty prevention of the elderly in communities. The delegated service system for preventive care in the community, including direct management by one of the public health centers, also needs to be reviewed and the application of stricter standards for the selection of the agency or corporation to run the delegated service is necessary. Long-Term Care Insurance, along with national and local grants, is to be considered as a financial resource for the community-based preventive health care model for the elderly. By making active use of education rooms at district offices, senior citizen centers in neighborhoods for the elderly with easy access can be created. The project needs to raise active supports from communities, develop programs which can be absorbed into particular local cultures, and promote the understanding of the preventive project in local communities. The preventive program should focus on first solving the problems of depression, seclusion, and lack of mobility of the elderly. Second, the program should instruct physical self-management for exercise-nutrition-dental maintenance, and third, the program should strengthen the cognitive abilities of the elderly. In addition, it is necessary to systematize and implement counter-plans of the family and community to protect the elderly who has mental and cognitive problems. Finally, by establishing a network of public health welfare resources based upon research on a community level, assessment and planning for the health of the elderly should be one with their family, and comprehensive consultation and recommendations should be provided to the family. Conclusion: Taking into consideration the experience Japan has had with respect to a similar project, it is appropriate to develop and implement a service system which would combine the Visiting Health Management Project system which has already been established and a preventive health care model for the elderly on a community level.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.666-678
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• 2008

The needs for drawing up of biotope map is rapidly spreaded over each local government recently in Korea, according as enhancing of interest about biotope, which is recognized to practical instrument for concretely being able to considering natural environment and ecosystem on all sorts of development plan. However, there are not yet the standard suggestion on biotope types and classification systems and biotope classification criteria. Therefore, each other methodologies are applied to each of local autonomies. First, under such critical mind the biotope types and classification systems were drafted by a review on biotope types, biotope classification systems, and biotope classification criteria of the preceded case studies until now at the inside and outside of the country. And then the purpose of this study is to derive biotope types and biotope classification systems applicable to the whole Korean region through continual feed back such as field surveys in selected representative areas and consultations. As a result of reviewing the case examples, first, the biotope classification systems were mixed two steps system with three steps system and those were composed mostly of the structure of two steps: large and small. Second, land-use, soil pavement ratio, green cover ratio, and vegetation usually were applied to the biotope classification criteria. This study suggests that the biotope classification system is consisted of four steps system: large(biotope class), medium(biotope group), small(biotope type) and detail(sub-biotope type), and the biotope types are classified into 13 types of large step, 45 types of medium step and 127 types of small step. However, this study suggests that the new biotope types on small step or detail step should be continually supplemented with the foundation of classification system proposed in this study because the biotope type classification should consider regional characteristics.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.208-227
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze secondary science teachers' planning process for an integrated science lesson. For this study, relevant references were collected from various sources, including literatures, previous studies regarding integrated science education, and individual studies. Two teachers (one from middle school and the other from high school) participated and 'the five-step instructional design' was adopted from former studies in this subject. The teachers were asked to develop an instructional plan based on 'the design' provided. While the consultation provided a framework for an instructional plan, the teachers were asked to take a leading role in terms of selecting the chapter to be taught; analyzing the course structure; and making detailed teaching plans. In the course of consultations, discussions, records, and analysis were organized into a journal. Based on the journal, the aspects of the planning process, including difficulties and problems faced by teachers, were analyzed in-depth. From the study, it could be observed that both high school and middle school teachers face various difficulties in preparing for the integrated science lesson. Among other things, the teachers emphasized the difficulties in the stages of selecting the topic, collecting the relevant information, and restructuring and organizing the lecture contents.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.555-560
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• 2010

Purpose: Facial allotransplantation (FA) could provide an excellent alternative to current treatments for facial disfigurement. However, despite being technically feasible, there continues to be various ethical and psychosocial issues associated with the risks and benefits of performing FA. The purpose of this study is to investigate risk acceptance and expectations in FA. Methods: In a quantitative assessment of risk versus benefit with respect to FA, from 2004 to 2008, Barker et al. developed and published a questionnaire-based instrument (Louisville Instrument for Transplantation [LIFT]), which contained 237 standardized questions. In the current study, the authors assessed risk versus benefits and expectations of FA using a Korean version of the LIFT. Respondents in three study groups (lay public, n=140; medical students, n=120; doctors, n=34) were questioned about risk acceptance as related to immunosuppression and tissue rejection, and expectations as related to quality of life improvement, and functional and aesthetic outcomes. A summary of the data has been provided and statistical analyses were performed. Results: Among the three study groups, results indicated that doctors accept the least amount of risk for a facial allotransplant, followed by medical students, and finally lay public. There was a significant statistical difference in three of the four questions regarding risk acceptance between the groups (p < 0.05). In general, lay public exhibited higher expectations for facial allotransplantation than the other groups. Additionally, there was a significant statistical difference in the importance of aesthetic outcome between the groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The authors' data indicate the three populations have vastly different levels of risk acceptance and expectations with regard to FA. Therefore, it is very important that surgeons establish clear, open, and thorough communication with patients in their consultations regarding FA. This is particularly important with respect to whether or not a patient's level of risk acceptance and expectations are progmatic.